PDP Chieftain, Umar Ardo Warns Senate President Not To Imperil Democracy, Ask Him To Declare Abbo’s Seat Vacant

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Ardo from Adamawa has called on the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to declare vacant the seat of Adamawa Senator Elisha Abbo, who decamped to the All  Progressives Congress, APC, on Wednesday from the PDP.

In a statement signed by Ardo he told Lawan not to imperil the nation’s democracy due to partisan interest as the constitution was clear on the status of anyone that defects to another political party and the consequences thereof.

Ardo said; “the best thing for the Senate President to do with the defection of Senator Abbo was to without hesitation declare the senator’s seat vacant.”

“Given the expressed provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution of the FRN 1999 (as amended), and the clear interpretation of this provision by the Supreme Court, the Senate President, Senator. Ahmed Lawan, owes the Nigerian State the inalienable duty to declare Senator. Elisha Abbo’s seat vacant in deference to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a consequence of the latter’s defection from the PDP to the APC.

“Having sworn an oath to “protect and defend the constitution”, the Senate President is duty-bound by his oath to so declare if he is not to fall guilty of aiding and abating the disparaging of the constitution by the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If the constitution, the law, rules, and regulations can be compromised on the altar of political interest, then our democracy, nay our society, is imperiled by the legislature itself, the most critical element of democracy. No political interest can supersede the constitution without threatening the very survival of our country as a democratic nation governed under the law”.

According to Ardo, that there was a clear interpretation of this provision by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of Hon. Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde vs Ondo State House of Assembly & others (2015)8NWLR, (part 1461); or 2015) LPELR- 24588 of the Supreme Court.

“The Senate President, Senator. Ahmed Lawan owes the Nigerian State the inalienable duty to declare Senator Abbo’s seat vacant in deference to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a consequence of the latter’s defection from the PDP to the APC. Having sworn an oath to “protect and defend the constitution”, the Senate President is duty-bound by his oath to so declare if he is not to fall guilty of aiding and abating the disparaging of the constitution by the senate,”  Ardo said.